Heading to Gunma near the end of the month, do I need chains on top of studless tires?

8 comments

1. > Was reading that some places have chain regulations when it hits really heavy snowfall.

   You read right. Carrying chains when heading to areas where you might encounter snow is a wise idea, and if it is a road that requires them you may be told to leave by the cops.

2. Heavy snowfall in December is unlikely, it barely ever snows in Gunma.

3. Gunma is a big region, if you stick to the east-southern part of it (around Maebashi mostly), you will be fine but if you plan on going to the mountains, then yes some areas may be restricted and chains are often required. Just pack some chains with you, better safe than sorry.

4. Probably not a bad idea, but it will depend on which area you’re going to.

   If you’re going to the onsen/ski/Lake Haruna/Minakami areas to the north – where it actually snows – definitely.

   If you’re in Maebashi, Takasaki or in the mountain-y area to the south (Fujioka, Onishi, Kanna, Ueno), probably not. That mountainous region to the south very rarely gets snow as the clouds are generally blocked by the peaks.

5. Are chains legal to use on normal vehicles in Honshu snow regions? In Hokkaido (way more snow) you’re not supposed to use chains at all, except buses and heavy vehicles. If you’re driving an AWD or 4WD not a FWD or something utterly inappropriate like a RWD sports car, just the studless will be fine.

6. Subie is in its natural habitat= Gunma.

7. You do not need chains. Make sure you have winter tires in good condition.
   Most チェーン規制is just winter tires. On rare occasions you actually legally need chains but that will only happen if it snows like 50cm in one night. Recently I’ve only seen this happen Niigata.

8. I only change to winter tires because hubby’s jikka is up in the snowy parts of Gunma, so we need them to visit for the holidays every December. For areas like Kusatsu or Minakami, you need studless tires OR chains, but you don’t need both

   There are some roads with random check points; if you get pulled over and the officers see you just have regular summer tires on, they will indeed make you turn around and go back.